Starting a Business in South Africa
From CIPC registration to your first tax return — all in one place
Starting a business in South Africa involves multiple steps: CIPC registration, SARS tax registration, bank account setup, and ongoing compliance. This resource hub walks you through every step with calculators to plan your finances, guides to handle registration, and checklists to stay compliant from day one.
Free Calculators
Calculate instantly — no signup required
Income Tax Calculator
Calculate your annual income tax obligations based on current SARS tax brackets and rebates.
VAT Calculator
Calculate VAT amounts for invoices, expenses and financial planning. Support for standard and zero-rated supplies.
Turnover Tax Calculator
Calculate turnover tax and compare it against income tax + VAT for small businesses.
Break-even Calculator
Find out exactly how much revenue you need to generate before your business becomes profitable.
Gross Margin Calculator
Calculate your gross profit margin with revenue and cost of goods sold inputs.
Net Profit Calculator
Calculate your net profit margin by accounting for all operating expenses and taxes.
Markup Calculator
Accurately set your sales prices to achieve target profit margins with markup calculations.
Loan Calculator
Plan your business financing with calculations for monthly payments, total interest and repayment schedules.
SBC Tax Calculator
Calculate Small Business Corporation tax and compare with the standard 27% company tax rate. See your SBC savings.
Step-by-Step Guides
Learn how with practical walkthroughs
How to Register for VAT in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to VAT registration with SARS. Learn when you must register, what documents you need, and how to complete the process online.
How to Register a Company with CIPC in South Africa
Complete guide to registering a Pty Ltd company with CIPC in South Africa. Name reservation, documents needed, online process, and costs.
How to Submit a VAT Return to SARS
Step-by-step guide to completing and submitting your VAT201 return on SARS eFiling. Includes what to report, due dates, and common mistakes.
Free Tools
Practical tools to save you time
Key Terms Explained
Understanding the jargon
VAT (Value-Added Tax)
VAT is a consumption tax of 15% levied on most goods and services in South Africa, collected by businesses on behalf of SARS.
Income Tax
Income tax is a direct tax levied by SARS on the taxable income of individuals, companies, and trusts in South Africa, using a progressive rate system for individuals.
Turnover Tax
Turnover tax is a simplified tax system available to South African micro-businesses with a qualifying turnover of R1 million or less per year.
Depreciation
Depreciation is the systematic allocation of a fixed asset's cost over its useful life, reflecting the asset's wear and tear, obsolescence, or decline in value.
Invoice
An invoice is a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer, detailing the products or services provided, quantities, prices, and payment terms.
Chart of Accounts
A chart of accounts is a structured list of all the accounts used by a business to classify and record financial transactions in the general ledger.
Bank Reconciliation
Bank reconciliation is the process of matching your accounting records against your bank statement to identify discrepancies and ensure your books accurately reflect your actual bank balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register a company in South Africa?
Register with CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) online, then register for income tax with SARS, and optionally register for VAT if turnover exceeds R2.3 million. Our Company Registration Checklist walks you through every step.
Should I register as a sole proprietor or a Pty Ltd?
A sole proprietor is simpler and cheaper to set up, but offers no personal liability protection. A Pty Ltd separates personal and business assets. Companies pay a flat 27% tax rate, while sole proprietors pay progressive rates up to 45%. Use our Income Tax Calculator to compare.
When should a small business register for VAT?
Registration is mandatory when taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in 12 months. If your turnover is between R120,000 and R2.3 million, voluntary registration lets you claim input VAT on purchases, which can benefit your cash flow.
What is turnover tax and is it right for my business?
Turnover tax is a simplified tax for micro businesses with turnover under R1 million. Instead of income tax, VAT, and other taxes, you pay a single percentage of turnover. Use our Turnover Tax Calculator to compare it against the normal tax system.
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